Monday Musing on Getting Creative With What You Already Own
Happy Monday, ladies. No one will be surprised to read that I’ve been thinking about personal style this week, and it started with a belt that I used to love.
I went to grab a belt for a long dress I was wearing and pulled out something that was 6-7 inches too short for my waist and bedazzled within an inch of its life. I stood there holding it, thinking two things. First, when did I own this, and when did I think this was me?
Then I remembered. It was at a San Francisco gala in the eighties when we were all dressing like the women in the Robert Palmer “Addicted to Love” video. Shoulder pads, red lips, short skirts, and wearing all black, and we thought we looked incredible.
The belt is going in the donation pile. And then I kept looking.
There were the shoes I’ve been holding onto from the era when I thought foot discomfort was just part of the deal.
And buried under everything else, a wool cape I made over 35 years ago. I’d thought about donating it several times over the years, but yesterday I could see it differently. I could have worn that to the Nutcracker Ballet last Christmas, not with the dress I wore back then, but with faux leather pants. Same cape. Completely different woman wearing it.
That’s the thing about a closet. It’s not just storage. It’s a biography.
Every piece in a closet represents a version of you. Who you were when you bought it, what you needed to feel like at the time, who you were dressing for. Some of those chapters are still true. Some are just taking up space. And some, like that cape, just need a fresh eye and the right pair of pants. That’s the edit, the artistry, and what makes personal style, personal.
Here’s what personal style looked like for me in real life last week:
VINTAGE KATE SPADE BAG FROM MY WARDROBE ARCHIVE
For a day of errands and coffee with a friend, I wore a beige V-neck sweater, straight-leg black jeans, my new sandals, a chunky silver bangle, and bold Silver Hoops. The outfit worked, but it felt a little bland. And then I remembered the beige-and-black animal-print Kate Spade I bought in the nineties. I’ve loved it from the day I bought it and never considered donating it. The minute it hit my arm, the whole outfit clicked.
The following day, I had a dental appointment, met a pal for lunch, and finished the day with a Little League game. I wore a cashmere T-shirt with comfy wide-leg blue pants, a soft denim jacket, and blue sport sneakers. I accessorized with my favorite silver necklace, a new navy bucket hat, and a quilted shoulder bag. The hat made the whole outfit for me.
Mid-week, I had a long day of running around, so I dressed for my feet. New Balance 327 sneakers, black Athleta Brooklyn pants, a white tee, a Tommy Bahama linen field jacket, silver hoops, and a preloved Alexis Bittar necklace and bracelet that I found secondhand. Not every outfit starts from inspiration. Sometimes it starts with a podiatrist. The edit just means you don’t stop there. I was also delighted to see the black jacket felt refreshing after my sea of blue outfits.
Saturday, I wore a Quince cashmere cardigan, Eileen Fisher ponte pants, Ecco sandals, two colorful beaded necklaces, and a blue tote I found at The Rack. That bag gets a comment every single time I wear it. Not because it’s expensive. Because it’s artistic and unusual, and nobody else is carrying it. My blue is sold out, but I spotted it in silver and think I have to have it too.
So this week, before you buy anything new, go shopping in your own closet first. Try something you haven’t worn in a while with something you wear all the time. You might find that the woman you are now wears things differently from the woman who bought them.
What have you been letting sit idle in your wardrobe?
This is the time of year that the closet needs a seasonal switch out of clothes and often things go into the donate bag. If I didn’t wear it all year then why am I keeping good clothing from someone else’s use and love? I also need to wash the couple of sweaters I wore. It has been too warm a winter here for sweaters. What a change from years past. You look adorable in your early picture! You had great taste for the era and made a very handsome couple.
Thanks Sydney
You looked great in every photo, from “back then” to today. I even like the red lips! I’m inspired by your outfits to look through my closet, and perhaps order a thing or two, though these days I’m definitely budget-conscious. I agree with other comments about your hair; the style looks great on you. I’m patiently watching for Minoxidil (my dermatologist has prescribed a low dose) to start working. Your story about hair loss and what I’ve learned from dermatology has been really helpful. Thank you.
I’m so happy you’re trying it. Look for little hairs alone your hairline at about the 6-8 month mark! It’s been a miracle for me.
Inspiring post! Love your simple casual style as always. Even easy outfits overwhelm me because of the sheer volume of clothes I own, so I love to see examples modeled just using basics. All your outfits are attractive and stylish, and look comfortable. That’s what I’m after. Love the jade beads with the gray sweater, and the classic Kate Spade purse in the first picture is tres chic! Makes the outfit.
I’m currently “shopping in my closet” as we transition to spring here in the NE, but it’s a challenge with temps ranging from one day in the 60’s, to the 30’s in the same week. This is where basics like you show really are the key!
I’ve finally realized why it is so hard for me to give away some of my favourites from my closet. It is because they are part of my history and I don’t want to lose that part of me. I love the reinvention concept to make the best of what I love and let the rest go.
Great ideas here, and I think you look great in all the photos, even the flashback one. While I agree that era overdid things (shoulder pads, hair, stiletto heels, bling) I also think we’ve gone too far in the other direction. Too casual. I don’t want to go to a restaurant where the meal for 2 will cost over $150 and see folks in jeans (not dressy ones, but everyday ones) and sweatshirts. Remember how there used to be smoking sections in restaurants? I think now they need a section for inappropriate dress 🤪…….I understand restaurants don’t want to turn away paying customers but they could at least reward those diners who “make an effort” with better seating.
LOL, imagine the uproar if they adhered to dress codes!
Love “the sometimes it starts with the podiatrist”. You have given me inspiration to go through my closet and storage tubs to see what works and what does not or can be repurposed. I like how the camel sandals work with your hair color. I still color mine to a warm brown however none of my shoes are brown. I may have to rethink that. We are heading out on a long trip to Japan where I know I will be walking a lot. It will probably be cool and rainy. From Tokyo we cruise to Hokaido and then across the Pacific to Alaska. Packing for this trip is a bit of a nightmare. Any tips?
I’m so jealous!! I adored Japan. Layers and just a few colors. They’re not as causal as here in the US which is lovely. Shoes in your hair color is so important. It helps the eye keep moving, circling your body and ending back at your face!
I like your first outfit best. The Kate Spade bag immediately caught my eye as the zebra is the symbol of neuroendocrine cancer, the disease I’ve been living with for over 12 years. I don’t go all out zebra stripes like some patients do, but a touch of zebra in an item like that purse can be a great conversation starter. I could also see myself in the third outfit if the pants and jacket were navy instead of black. It looks great on you.
It often has been. Thanks Elaine.
The 80s were an interesting fashion era! Love the Tommy Bahama field jacket. Also, the necklace you have on in the photo, I’ve been looking for something like that. Do you have any suggestions?
Museum shops, Anthropologie, Chicos always have unique looking pieces.
I love how simply and clean lined your outfits always look. Still working on dressing that way but your photos help!
This is a great post. I’ve been doing exactly that. Shopping in my closet. Mostly because I feel like I can’t really find anything that fits or that I really like. Plus I have too many clothes! While going through my closet I found things that fit that I still really like, just wearing them in a more modern way.
That’s great!
What a great inspirational post! I can’t wait to start shopping in my own closet and
adding a few new pieces I purchased this year. Thank you for all that you do for your blog.
I used to read a fashion blogger who advocated creating capsules for special event clothing. It got those items into a designated place and when special events came up she could review what she had and work with it.
I’m thinking about it because it go so cold this past Winter I went into a closet bag and got an ancient Eileen Fisher boiled wool jacket-coat out to wear to an “art” event. It’s going back into storage. I put wool away early, otherwise I forget about it and the moths have a feast! This year I’m going to store it with my other wool sweaters, folded not hung. When I get those out next year my eye will see it and hopefully remind me to wear it.
You look great in your Robert Palmer phase.
That’s smart Rose.
Good Morning Jennifer. Great article. You look great in everything, and really like that Tommy Bahama linen jacket. I have an old beaded Silpada necklace that I’ve been trying to wear for weeks, I call it my wear it or will it (goodwill) trial. Every time I tried it on, I took it off … just couldn’t get it to work. A couple of days ago, I pulled out a rustic silver cross, again Silpada, polished it up and strung it onto the necklace. And now I can’t stop wearing it.
Brilliant!
I love the idea of a “wear it or will it” trial, Lea Ann!
I do too
A great reminder to look in our closets and drawers as we move to spring and summer. Love your first simple outfit best and the reminder of how to use the fun classic Kate Spade bags. We’ve collected a lot of accessories, shoes, jewelry at our stage and have to be careful of not putting too much in at once. Tomorrow is another day!
So many clothing items are sitting idle in my closet! You have inspired me to look, identify them, and then give some thought to wearing them differently or giving them away. Thank you. I really do need to purge my closet.
Have fun unearthing the treasures!
You DID look fabulous!
Love the looks! As you say, the Kate Spade bag made the outfit. I have a question about managing all the different handbags you carry in a week. Do you have any tips about how to transfer contents from one bag to another w/o forgetting something? (I have a small cosmetic bag that contains the meds I have to have.) Do you leave certain items (comb, tissues) in the bags you use a lot? This might make an interesting post. Thanks!
I just have a small cosmetic bag that holds Tylenol, dental floss, a short emory board and lipstick. I take the opportunity to clean out extraneous things when I change handbags.
Ha we did the Robert Palmer girls! And we want to see the shawl! What I tend to keep long term are accessories. While I have let a few things get away, generally if I like it I like it, whether it’s in or not. I have plenty of beaded necklaces to bring out now. You will have to rip my Kate Spade Claire bag (and all of my vintage Coach) from my cold dead hands!
LOL!
You look lovely and intentional in all of your outfits….reminds me of your article on the lady in red in the grocery store.
Which sandal do you find more comfortable the Josef Seibel or Ecco shoe?
The Seibel sandal is best for me right now because it does not bend and has lists of padding.
Your hair is looking great!!😊
Ann Pitt
Thanks Ann. Loads of product!
What products do you use for your hair? I have fine, thinning hair which turns limp after a few hours.
I use a ton of products and it changes all the time. I’ll update my post on what I’m currently using
I love your ideas. Sometimes, just reframing how you use an item gives it a whole new life.
The rut comes for me when I’m in a hurry, so I reach for the same things to wear in the same way. Your post inspired me to get back to a practice. Pull out a bottom piece from my wardrobe and find 3 ways to wear it using what I own. If I do this daily, I have a number of “new” outfits in mind during crunch time.